BETTER! with Dr. Stephanie Estima | Strength, Body Composition & Perimenopause

Feeling Stuck on Antidepressants in Midlife? How to Taper Off Safely with Mark Horowitz, PhD

23 Mar 2026

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This episode is essential for millions of women who’ve been on antidepressants for years or even decades. Dr. Mark Horowitz, a British-Australian psychiatry researcher, neuroscientist, and lead author of clinical deprescribing guidelines, offers an honest conversation about the science, marketing myths, and long-term effects of antidepressants, including emotional numbing, weight gain, disrupted sleep, and cognitive changes. Dr. Horowitz explains the difference between addiction and physical dependence, why withdrawal symptoms are often mistaken for relapse, and the evidence-based method of hyperbolic tapering. Whether you’ve been on an antidepressant for two years or twenty, you’ll leave with smart questions for your prescriber, a clear sense of your own readiness, and reassurance that tapering off slowly and carefully has a success rate of over 90%. Episode Overview: (0:00) Intro/Teaser (6:00) Midlife Misdiagnosis (11:00) How Life Events Became Medicalized and Why That Matters (18:00) Long-Term Side Effects (27:00) The Serotonin Hypothesis (31:00) Addiction vs. Physical Dependence (39:00) Withdrawal vs. Relapse: How to Tell the Difference (49:00) Hyperbolic Tapering Explained (57:00) How to Know if You're Ready to Come Off Your Antidepressant (1:10:00) What to Say to Your Doctor (1:17:00) The After-Party with Dr. Stephanie Resources mentioned: https://drstephanieestima.com/podcasts/ep461 We couldn’t do it without our sponsors: HIGHER DOSE - If you’re noticing thinning, shedding, or simply want to support scalp and hair health proactively, this is a powerful addition to your routine. Get 15% off at https://higherdose.com with code BETTER at checkout. LMNT - Rehydrate with the perfect mix of sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Get a free sample pack at https://drinklmnt.com/drestima TIMELINE - We know we are in a fight against time to preserve our muscle strength and endurance, plus our recovery needs are greater. That's why you save 20% at https://timelinenutrition.com/better with code BETTER. KENETIK - You think carefully about how you fuel your body but are you fueling your brain? Learn more and try it for yourself by going to https://drinkkenetik.com/BETTER and use code BETTER for 15% off. ****************************P.S. When you're ready, here are two ways Dr. Stephanie can help you:Subscribe: The Mini Pause — My weekly newsletter packed with the most actionable, evidence-based tools for women 40+ to thrive in midlife.Build Muscle: LIFT — My progressive strength training program designed for women in midlife. Form-focused, joint-friendly, and built for real results. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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13:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

10:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

12:00H | 20 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

2ª PARTE | 06 ENE 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

01 Jan 1970

El Partidazo de COPE

3ª PARTE | 22 ENE 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

01 Jan 1970

El Partidazo de COPE

3ª PARTE | 04 MAR 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

01 Jan 1970

El Partidazo de COPE

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BETTER! with Dr. Stephanie Estima | Strength, Body Composition & Perimenopause

Feeling Stuck on Antidepressants in Midlife? How to Taper Off Safely with Mark Horowitz, PhD

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet

Other recent transcribed episodes

13:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

10:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

12:00H | 20 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

2ª PARTE | 06 ENE 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

3ª PARTE | 22 ENE 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

3ª PARTE | 04 MAR 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

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